U.S. patent number 10,485,359 [Application Number 14/766,465] was granted by the patent office on 2019-11-26 for mattress for ready changing of bed linen.
The grantee listed for this patent is David John Martin. Invention is credited to David John Martin.
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United States Patent |
10,485,359 |
Martin |
November 26, 2019 |
Mattress for ready changing of bed linen
Abstract
A mattress includes a number of elongate members, webs or straps
that span an underside of the mattress and terminate with graspable
handle portions. The straps are attached to the underside of the
mattress by a hook and loop fastening system. A mattress prop may
be used in conjunction with the straps for spacing the mattress
from a support surface such as a bed base. In a first version the
prop has a mattress attachment member and a base abutment member
movable relative to the mattress attachment member from a collapsed
configuration to an erected configuration. A spacer member is
disposed between the mattress attachment member and the base
abutment member for selectively retaining the base abutment member
in the erected configuration relative to the mattress attachment
member.
Inventors: |
Martin; David John (Lismore,
AU) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Martin; David John |
Lismore |
N/A |
AU |
|
|
Family
ID: |
51299082 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/766,465 |
Filed: |
February 7, 2014 |
PCT
Filed: |
February 07, 2014 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/AU2014/000092 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
August 07, 2015 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2014/121334 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
August 14, 2014 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20160022053 A1 |
Jan 28, 2016 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 8, 2013 [AU] |
|
|
2013900394 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
31/08 (20130101); A47C 21/028 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
31/08 (20060101); A47C 21/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;5/703,510,488 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
IP Australia Examination report No. 1 for Application No.
2014214539, dated Jun. 7, 2018, 5 pages. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Conley; Fredrick C
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Patent Law of Virginia, PLLC
Teague; Brian J.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A mattress having a non-removable cover, the mattress including:
a number of flexible handling members directly attached to an
underside of the mattress with graspable portions for manually
raising the mattress sufficiently to enable bed linen to be fitted,
the handling members having free outer ends and being directly
attached to an external surface of the mattress at a minimum
spacing inwardly from the edge of the mattress along a longitudinal
axis of each handling member to avoid interference with fitting of
the bed linen, and the graspable portions being disposed at the
free outer ends of respective handling members.
2. A mattress according to claim 1, wherein the flexible handling
members comprise elongate webs or straps that span an underside of
the mattress.
3. A mattress according to claim 1, wherein the flexible handling
members are sewn, adhered or otherwise directly attached to the
mattress.
4. A mattress according to claim 1, wherein the flexible handling
members are attached to the underside of the mattress by a hook and
loop fastening system.
5. A mattress according to claim 4, wherein the hook and loop
fastening system comprises an elongate portion between the mattress
and the flexible handling members.
6. A mattress according to claim 4, wherein the hook and loop
fastening system comprises a number of separate portions.
7. A mattress according to claim 1, wherein the free outer ends of
each of the flexible handling members that terminate in
handles.
8. A mattress according to claim 7, wherein the handles comprise
loops formed at the free outer ends of the flexible handling
members.
9. A mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handling members
are attached inwardly from the edge of the mattress by at least
about 20 cm.
10. A mattress according to claim 1, including at least one
mattress prop for raising the mattress from a support surface
therefor.
11. A mattress according to claim 10, wherein the mattress prop
includes a mattress support member and a base abutment member
movably attached thereto for moving from a collapsed configuration
to an erected configuration.
12. A mattress according to claim 11, wherein the base member is
movably attached to the mattress support member by a pivot.
13. A mattress according to claim 12, wherein a spacer member is
disposed between the mattress support member and the base member
for retaining the mattress prop in an erected configuration.
14. A mattress according to claim 13 wherein the mattress support
member includes a formation to retain the spacer member in the
erected configuration.
15. A mattress according to claim 10, wherein the mattress prop
comprises an inflatable bladder which assumes an erected
configuration upon inflation wherein the mattress is raised from
the support surface.
16. An assembly including a mattress and four of the mattress props
according to claim 15.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is for entry into the U.S. National Phase under
.sctn. 371 for International Application No. PCT/AU2014/000092
having an international filing date of Feb. 7, 2014, and from which
priority is claimed under all applicable sections of Title of the
United States Code including, but not limited to, Sections 120,
363, and 365(c), and which in turn claims priority under 35 USC 119
to Australian Patent Application No. 2013900394 filed on Feb. 8,
2013.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a mattress and more particularly
to a mattress that is adapted to be readily lifted and moved and
which, in a preferred embodiment assists in the changing of bed
linen.
BACKGROUND ART
Any references to methods, apparatus or documents of the prior art
are not to be taken as constituting any evidence or admission that
they formed, or form part of the common general knowledge.
Mattresses for beds are difficult objects to handle. Typically they
are formed of plurality of internal metal springs which are
interconnected by a mesh. The coils and mesh are then covered with
a layer of flexible foam which is in turn covered by an outer
fabric layer. Consequently mattresses are relatively heavy and
difficult to grasp easily. Furthermore, since they are flexible
they may twist out of a person's grasp in an unpredictable
fashion.
In some situations there is a need to handle a large number of
mattresses very frequently. One example of such a situation is the
hotel industry where large numbers of beds must be made up with
fresh bed linen. Obviously the more time that it takes to change a
bed the more personnel are required and the greater the associated
overhead.
In the past some attempts have been made to provide a mattress
which is adapted for improved handling. One approach has been to
include handles on opposed sides of the mattress. In some instances
the handles include members that penetrate through the fabric and
foam layers to terminate fast with the internal mesh. It will be
realized that it is difficult and expensive to manufacture
mattresses of this type. Furthermore, while such mattresses may
assist in addressing the problem of moving an unmade mattress from
one place to another, they do not generally assist in handling a
mattress that bears a fitted sheet.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a mattress that
addresses one or more of the above described problems or which is
at least a useful alternative to those mattresses that have
hitherto been known in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is
provided a mattress including:
a number of flexible handling members attached to an underside of
the mattress with graspable portions for manually for raising the
mattress.
Preferably the flexible handling members comprise elongate webs or
straps that span an underside of the mattress.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the flexible handling
members are attached to the underside of the mattress sufficiently
to keep them in place relative thereto.
For example, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the
flexible handling members are attached to the underside of the
mattress by a hook and loop fastening system. Alternatively, the
flexible handling members may be sewn or adhered directly to the
mattress.
The hook and loop fastening system may comprise an elongate portion
between the mattress and the flexible handling members or
alternatively it may comprise a number of separate portions.
Preferably the flexible handling members have outer ends that
terminate in handles comprising the graspable portions. For
example, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the handles
comprise loops formed at outer ends of the flexible handling
members.
Preferably the mattress includes at least one mattress prop for
raising the mattress from a support surface thereof.
In one embodiment the mattress prop comprises an inflatable bladder
which assumes an erected configuration upon inflation wherein the
mattress is raised from the support surface.
In an alternative and preferred embodiment of the invention the
mattress prop includes a mattress support member and a base member
movably attached thereto for moving from a collapsed configuration
to an erected configuration.
Preferably the base member is movably attached to the mattress
support member by a pivot.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention a spacer member is
disposed between the mattress support member and the base member
for retaining the mattress prop in an erected configuration.
Preferably the mattress support member includes a formation to
retain the spacer member in the erected configuration.
It is preferred that the mattress includes four of the mattress
props.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the mattress support
member is fastened to one of the flexible handling members. For
example, the mattress support member may be riveted to said
handling member.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is
provided a mattress prop for spacing a mattress from a support
surface such as a bed base, said prop comprising:
a. a base abutment member;
b. a mattress support member movable relative to the base abutment
member from a collapsed configuration to an erected configuration;
and
c. a spacer member disposed between the mattress support member and
the base abutment member for selectively retaining the mattress
support member in the erected configuration relative to the base
abutment member.
Preferably a first end of the mattress support member and a first
end of the base abutment member are joined together by a first
pivot.
The first end of the spacer member is preferably attached to a
second end of the base abutment member by a second pivot.
Preferably the second end of the spacer member is slidingly engaged
by the mattress support member.
The spacer member may be slidingly engaged by a slot formed along
the mattress support member.
Preferably the slot is formed with a retaining portion that acts as
a detent for retaining the spacer member in the erected
configuration.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is
provided a mattress assembly including
a base;
a mattress;
an inflatable prop disposed between the base and the mattress
comprising an inflatable bladder which assumes an erected
configuration upon inflation for raising the mattress from the
base.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is
provided a
method for changing bed linen comprising the steps of:
locating props at or toward the underside of four corners of a
mattress;
bringing the props to an erected configuration to thereby space at
least the corners of the mattress from an underlying support
surface;
changing the bed linen whilst the props are in the erected
configuration;
once the bed linen has been changed bringing the props to a
collapsed configuration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may
be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides
sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the
invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as
limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any
way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of
drawings as follows:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the underside of a mattress according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of a handle portion of straps of the mattress
of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the handle portion of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the underside of the mattress of FIG. 1
with a fitted sheet installed.
FIG. 4A is a plan view of the underside of the mattress where
straps that do not span the width of the mattress have been fitted
in accordance with a less preferred embodiment of the
invention.
FIG. 4B is a side and partially exploded view of the mattress above
a base showing a continuous hook and loop fastening system.
FIG. 4C shows a variation wherein the hook and loop fastening
system comprises a plurality of separate regions.
FIG. 5 depicts a mattress prop according to a preferred embodiment
of a second aspect of the invention.
FIG. 6 shows the mattress prop of FIG. 5 in an erected
configuration.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the mattress prop of FIG. 5 in use and in
a collapsed configuration.
FIG. 8 is a side view of the mattress prop of FIG. 5 in use and in
an erected configuration.
FIG. 9 is a somewhat stylized side view of the mattress prop of
FIG. 5 in use in conjunction with mattress straps of FIG. 1.
FIG. 9A depicts the underside of the mattress of FIG. 9 wherein
four props 12c are positioned thereunder.
FIG. 10 is a side view of a mattress prop according to a second
embodiment of the present invention in a first, collapsed,
configuration.
FIG. 11 is a side view of the mattress prop of FIG. 10 in a second,
erected, configuration.
FIG. 11A is a plan view of the underside of a mattress with four of
the mattress pumps of FIGS. 10 and 11 located thereunder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made to FIG. 1, which is a plan view of the
underside of a mattress 2 according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention. Spanning across the width of the underside
of the mattress are two spaced apart flexible handling members in
the form of straps 4a and 4b. The straps are typically made of a
strong woven fabric, for example the type of woven material that is
used to make vehicle seat belts.
Medial portions 7a, 7b of each of the straps are fastened to the
underside of the mattress with a hook-and-loop fastening system
such as Velcro.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the ends of each of the straps 4a
and 4b are portions for grasping by hand. More particularly, they
are formed as loops 8 which comprise handles. Each loop 8 is made
simply by folding ends of each of the straps back upon themselves
and then stitching them in place as shown in region 10, to thereby
form the loop.
FIG. 4 shows the underside of the mattress 2 with a fitted sheet 9
installed thereon. It will be noted that the portions 7a, 7b of
each strap that are fastened to the underside of the mattress do
not extend to the edge of the mattress but rather terminate
sufficiently inward from the mattress edge so that they do not
interfere with fitted sheet 9.
Since the straps 4a, 4b and loops 8 are flexible they can be easily
tucked into, or pulled out from, fitted sheet 9 without having to
remove the fitted sheet from the mattress. Alternatively, they can
be simply folded back under the mattress.
It is preferable that each of the straps be placed underneath the
mattress a minimum of 200 mm in from the sides and 300 mm to 400 mm
from the head and foot ends of the mattress. If the straps are
attached closer to the head end of the mattress then they are
likely to be difficult to use as they may be obstructed by bedside
tables and the like.
Furthermore, it is also preferable that a continuous length of
fabric be used for each strap which spans the underside of the
mattress and terminates in loops or other types of handle at either
end. In a variation of the invention shown in FIG. 4A of the
invention four distinct straps 7x, 7y, 7z and 7w are used, each
attached near a corner of the underside of the mattress. However,
such an arrangement is more likely to damage the mattress as the
lifting load is not as well distributed as it is by using
continuous straps 7A, 7B (of FIG. 4) that span the underside of the
mattress.
It is also possible, in another variation of the invention, for the
straps to be orientated so that they span from the head to the foot
of the mattress, rather than from side to side. However, while such
an arrangement is possible, having an end of the straps at the head
is likely to be inconvenient since the head of a bed is usually
placed against a wall or bedhead so that access to the loops of the
straps may be obstructed.
Referring now to FIG. 4B, there is shown an exploded side view,
which is not necessarily drawn to scale, of the mattress, base and
strap wherein the two parts of the hook and loop fastening system
11a and 11b, which respectively are attached to the strap and to
the mattress can be seen.
It is not necessary that the straps be attached to the underside of
the mattress all the way across the underside. FIG. 4C shows a
variation wherein distinct patches of the hook and loop fastening
system are used. Furthermore, while a hook and loop fastening
system is preferred the straps could be sewn or glued directly to
the mattress.
A mattress prop according to a preferred embodiment of a further
aspect of the present invention will now be described with
reference to FIGS. 5 to 10.
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the mattress prop 12 comprise
opposed members in the form of a mattress support member comprising
mattress plate 14 and a base abutment member comprising a base
plate 18 (best seen in FIG. 6). The plates 14 and 18 are joined at
one end by a pivot 16, which allows the plates to swing away and
toward each other from a collapsed configuration, shown in FIG. 5
to an erected configuration as shown in FIG. 6.
Mattress plate 14 is formed with sides 28 along each of which an
elongate slot 22 is formed therethrough. The slot 22 captures the
head 24 of a pin about which one end of a spacer member 30 pivots.
An opposite end of the spacer member 30 is connected, by pivot 20
to sides 19 of the base plate 18 at a distance from pivot 16.
The base plate 18 is formed with upright sides 19 into each of
which there is formed a slot 32 for receiving the pin heads 24 when
the mattress prop 12 is in the collapsed configuration shown in
FIG. 5.
At one end of the slot 22, remote from pivot 16, the slot
terminates in a right angled bend which acts as a retaining
formation or detent 26. The detent 26 receives and captures the pin
24, and so the spacer member 30, in the erected configuration of
the prop which is shown in FIG. 6.
Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, in use a leading edge of the
mattress plate 14 of the prop 12 supports the underside of the
mattress 2. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 8, not only
does the mattress plate 14 support the underside of the mattress 2
but it is also attached to the underside of mattress 2 by a hook
and loop fastening system 33 (such as Velcro.RTM.) wherein a first
part of the fastening system is glued to the plate 14 and a second
part of the fastening system is sewn, glued or otherwise attached
to the underside of the mattress 2.
In use, a person wishing to change the bed linen lifts the mattress
2 and so brings plate 14 of mattress prop 12 upward. Alternatively,
if the hook and loop system 33 is not used the person could instead
lift the leading end of the mattress plate 14. Consequently, the
mattress plate 14 swings up around pivot 16. As it does so the
spacer member 30 swings about pivot 20 and the pin head 24 slides
along slot 22 until it is captured by detent 26 thereby coming to
the erected position shown in FIG. 8.
In the erected configuration illustrated in FIG. 8 the person is
able to easily remove and refit the bed linen since the mattress 2
is held spaced apart from the base 34 as shown. It is preferable
that one of the props 12 be used at each of the four corners of the
mattress.
Once the bed linen has been changed the person then raises mattress
2 (or raises the leading edge of mattress plate 14 and so also the
mattress 2) so that the pin head 24 falls out from the detent 26
and is able to slide back along slot 22 as the prop 12 resumes the
collapsed configuration illustrated in FIG. 7.
Although it is not essential, preferably the mattress prop 12 is
used in conjunction with a mattress that has straps and is as of
the type explained in FIGS. 1 to 4.
FIG. 9 is a sideview of a portion of a mattress 2 fitted with strap
4 and mattress prop 12. The upper edge of mattress plate 14 in this
embodiment is riveted to strap 4 by means of a rivet 35, although
other attachment means may also be employed. Consequently, lifting
one end of the strap also causes the adjacent mattress plate 14 of
prop 12 to rise so that the erected configuration shown in FIG. 9
is achieved.
FIG. 9A shows the underside of a mattress where four of the props
12a . . . 12b have been disposed towards each of the corners of the
mattress and fastened to the lifting straps 4a, 4b as shown in FIG.
9.
Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, there is depicted an alternative
embodiment of a mattress prop being an inflatable bladder 36. The
inflatable bladder is made of a tough, resilient and deformable
material such as a suitable plastic envelope and is connected to a
fluid pump 38, e.g. an air pump, by a hose 40.
The pump 38 may be motor or foot driven. FIG. 11A shows the
preferred situation where four of the mattress pumps 36a to 36d are
used, each toward or at a corner of the underside of the mattress
2.
As shown in FIG. 11A, the props are preferably all connected by
their hoses 40a to 40d to a common pump 38.
In use, an operator starts the pump 38 to cause inflation of the
bladders 36a to 36c so that the mattress 2 rises from the base 34
to a suitable height wherein the sheet over the mattress can be
readily changed. Once the bed linen has been changed the bladder is
allowed to deflate, for example by disconnecting hoses 40a to 40d
from the pump or by turning off the pump 38.
In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in
language more or less specific to structural or methodical
features.
The term "comprises" and its variations, such as "comprising" and
"comprised of" is used throughout in an inclusive sense and not to
the exclusion of any additional features.
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to
specific features shown or described since the means herein
described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into
effect.
The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or
modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims
appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.
Throughout the specification and claims (if present), unless the
context requires otherwise, the term "substantially" or "about"
will be understood to not be limited to the value for the range
qualified by the terms.
Any embodiment of the invention is meant to be illustrative only
and is not meant to be limiting to the invention. Therefore, it
should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications
can be made to any embodiment described without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *